MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)--As the country celebrated its 125th anniversary of the 'Araw ng Kalayaan' after 333 years of Spanish dictatorship, Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia asked the public to continue to remember the sacrifices and uphold the values made by our ancestors to attain the freedom that we are experiencing, June 12.

"As we celebrate Independence Day, let us always remember our courageous ancestors who offered their lives and fought for our freedom," Unabia said.

June 12, 1898, marked a significant event in the lives of Filipinos as Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the country from the Spanish Colony. The hard-fought battle to gain freedom had not been easy since it had involved a lot of bloodshed, with parents losing their children and children losing their parents as Filipinos revolted against the foreign colonizers. Many had sacrificed to attain their dreams of freedom.

Despite the adversities faced by our forefathers, Unabia underscored that the Filipino’s love for the country and unbreakable will became keys to breaking the chains of slavery and abuse.

"We will honor their heroism by protecting our sovereignty and fulfilling our civic duties. After all, it is our inherent duty as citizens to ensure that the Philippines fulfills its destiny as a great and prosperous nation," he added.

As the country continues to celebrate its independence day, the provincial government calls forth all the Misamisnons to give a deeper meaning to the sacrifices made by our forefathers by following their footsteps and good deeds. (JAKA/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)